Best Travel Strollers of 2026

By BestTravelStroller.com Team · Updated November 2026

The best travel stroller for most families is the Joolz Aer2: it lies flat from birth, folds with one hand and weighs 14.3 lb. If you need the smallest fold, the Cybex Libelle is the only stroller we compared that fits a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on on its maker’s own numbers.

We compared 18 travel strollers on maker specs and checked every folded size against the cabin limits airlines publish. Most "fits the overhead bin" claims don’t match a standard carry-on, so the table below shows what each fold actually meets.

Best strollers for airplanes Best travel strollers for newborns Best travel strollers for toddlers Best double travel strollers Best cheap travel strollers

How this was put together: this is research-based. We compared maker specs, manuals, airline rules and patterns in verified owner reviews; we have not tested these strollers ourselves. How we research. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

Best overall: Joolz Aer2, 14.3 lb, from birth
Best from birth: Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus, 16 lb, from birth
Best for frequent flyers: Stokke YOYO5, 15.4 lb, seat from 6 months (birth with Newborn Pack)
Smallest fold: Cybex Libelle, 13.7 lb, seat from 6 months
Best with a Nuna car seat: Nuna TRVL, 13.6 lb, seat from about 6 months (birth in a PIPA car seat)
Best for everyday use too: UPPAbaby Minu V3, 16.7 lb, from birth
Best value from birth: Mountain Buggy nano urban, 13 lb, from birth

Travel Stroller Comparison Chart

Weights and folded sizes are the makers’ published figures. "Fits 22x14x9" checks the fold against the standard US carry-on size in any orientation.

Travel stroller comparison chart
Stroller	Weight	Folded	Fits 22x14x9	Child up to	From birth	List price
Joolz Aer2 Amazon	14.3 lb	20.9 x 17.3 x 9.2 in	No	50 lb	Birth	$549
Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus Amazon	16 lb	21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 in	No	50 lb	Birth	$579
Stokke YOYO5 Amazon	15.4 lb	20.5 x 17.7 x 8.7 in	No	48.5 lb	6 months (birth with Newborn Pack)	$549
Cybex Libelle Amazon	13.7 lb	18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 in	Yes	55 lb	6 months	$350
Nuna TRVL Amazon	13.6 lb	24 x 20.25 x 11 in	No	50 lb	About 6 months (birth in a PIPA car seat)	$350
UPPAbaby Minu V3 Amazon	16.7 lb	21.5 x 18 x 10 in	No	50 lb	Birth	$500
Mountain Buggy nano urban Amazon	13 lb	21 x 20 x 12 in	No	49 lb	Birth	$390
Silver Cross Jet 5 Amazon	15.87 lb	24.5 x 14.5 x 10 in	No	55 lb	Birth	$550
Colugo Compact Stroller+ Amazon	16.18 lb	22 x 17.6 x 10.6 in	No	55 lb	4 months	$299
gb Pockit+ All-City Amazon	13.2 lb	18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in	Yes	55 lb	6 months	$330
Zoe Traveler Amazon	13 lb	22 x 19 x 10 in	No	45 lb	3 months	$279
Summer by Ingenuity 3Dlite Amazon	14 lb	40 x 14 x 12 in	No	50 lb	6 months	$110
Kolcraft Cloud Plus Amazon	11 lb	34 x 18 x 12 in	No	50 lb	Not stated by maker	$90

The Best Travel Strollers, Ranked

1Best overall

Joolz Aer2

The Aer2 lies fully flat from birth, folds with one hand, weighs 14.3 lb and carries a 17.6 lb basket. No other stroller here combines all four.

Weight: 14.3 lb
Folded: 20.9 x 17.3 x 9.2 in
Child up to: 50 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Seat lies fully flat, so it works from birth without a bassinet
One-hand fold that stands on its own, with a shoulder strap and travel pouch included
17.6 lb basket, big for a travel stroller
Up to 10-year warranty if you register it within 6 months

Watch out for

At 20.9 x 17.3 x 9.2 in folded, it is wider than a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on
Car seat adapters ($59.99) are extra
Fabrics are hand-wash only

Check price on Amazon Joolz siteList price $549 from Joolz

Read the full Joolz Aer2 review

2Best from birth

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus

The Butterfly 2 Plus adds a lay-flat recline and a built-in newborn foot cover to the Butterfly, so the seat works from day one. It has the longest car seat list here.

Weight: 16 lb
Folded: 21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 in
Child up to: 50 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Lay-flat seat and newborn foot cover, so no bassinet needed
Adapters fit Nuna PIPA, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, Clek and Bugaboo Turtle seats
17.6 lb basket plus a seat-back pocket
4-year warranty when bought from Bugaboo

Watch out for

16 lb, about 1.7 lb heavier than the Joolz Aer2
Folds to 21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 in, over a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on
Adapters ($69.95) and transport bag cost extra

Check price on Amazon Bugaboo siteList price $579 from Bugaboo

Read the full Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus review

3Best for frequent flyers

Stokke YOYO5

The YOYO5 is the newest version of the stroller that made cabin-size folds famous. It folds with the seat still on, and its 8.7 in thickness is the slimmest of the full-featured picks.

Weight: 15.4 lb
Folded: 20.5 x 17.7 x 8.7 in
Child up to: 48.5 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Folds one-handed with the seat or newborn pack still attached
20.5 x 17.7 x 8.7 in, within Air France and KLM cabin stroller limits
22 lb basket limit, the biggest of the singles
Shoulder strap and carry bag included

Watch out for

Seat pack is for 6 months and up; newborns need the $150 newborn pack
At 15.4 lb, it is heavier than the YOYO3 it replaced
YOYO3 accessories do not fit the new frame

Check price on Amazon Stokke siteList price $549 from Stokke

Read the full Stokke YOYO5 review

4Smallest fold

Cybex Libelle

The Libelle is the only stroller here that fits inside a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on on the maker’s own numbers. You give up basket space and newborn use for that.

Weight: 13.7 lb
Folded: 18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 in
Child up to: 55 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Fits

Why it stands out

Folds to 18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 in, inside a standard US carry-on
13.7 lb with a 55 lb child limit
Adapters for Cybex infant seats come in the box
Current version adds a near-flat recline and front suspension

Watch out for

Seat from 6 months only, no bassinet option
Small, shallow basket (11 lb) and a short canopy
Two-step fold, no bag or strap included

Check price on Amazon Cybex siteList price $350 from Cybex

Read the full Cybex Libelle review

5Best with a Nuna car seat

Nuna TRVL

The TRVL folds itself at the press of a button and takes a Nuna PIPA infant seat with no adapters. Its fold is bigger than the others, though, and Nuna itself suggests checking it at the gate.

Weight: 13.6 lb
Folded: 24 x 20.25 x 11 in
Child up to: 50 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Self-folds and stands with one button
Nuna PIPA infant seats click straight on, no adapters
Carry bag included; rear wheels pop off to shrink the fold
50 lb child limit at 13.6 lb

Watch out for

Seat does not lie flat; newborns ride in the PIPA seat
Folds to 24 x 20.25 x 11 in, too big for most cabins
10 lb basket limit is low

Check price on Amazon Nuna siteList price $350 from Nuna

Read the full Nuna TRVL review

6Best for everyday use too

UPPAbaby Minu V3

The Minu V3 pairs a seat that lies flat with a 20 lb basket and a 3-year warranty, which makes it a travel stroller you can also use every day. The cost is weight: 16.7 lb.

Weight: 16.7 lb
Folded: 21.5 x 18 x 10 in
Child up to: 50 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Flat recline with a foot barrier, usable from birth
20 lb basket and a hidden pocket for a tracker
One-hand fold and unfold, carry strap built in
3-year warranty

Watch out for

16.7 lb, the heaviest single stroller in our list
Folds to 21.5 x 18 x 10 in
Non-UPPAbaby car seats need a separate adapter set

Check price on Amazon UPPAbaby siteList price $500 from UPPAbaby

Read the full UPPAbaby Minu V3 review

7Best value from birth

Mountain Buggy nano urban

The nano urban costs $389.99 yet lies flat from birth and takes infant car seats with a built-in belt instead of adapters. It also ships with two sets of wheels.

Weight: 13 lb
Folded: 21 x 20 x 12 in
Child up to: 49 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Lay-flat seat from birth
Built-in travel-system belt holds an infant car seat, no adapters
Two wheel sets in the box: small travel wheels and bigger urban wheels
Folds into an included satchel

Watch out for

Mountain Buggy’s page lists conflicting weights (13 lb and 7.6 kg)
Handlebar does not adjust
Reviews of the earlier nano found the basket hard to load

Check price on Amazon Mountain Buggy siteList price $390 from Mountain Buggy

Read the full Mountain Buggy nano urban review

8Best pull-along fold

Silver Cross Jet 5

The Jet 5 lies flat from birth and folds onto two wheels so you can pull it like a suitcase. It is long when folded, though, and its basket is small.

Weight: 15.87 lb
Folded: 24.5 x 14.5 x 10 in
Child up to: 55 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Full lie-flat seat and newborn apron, up to 55 lb
Folds onto two wheels and pulls like a suitcase
Rain cover and travel cover included

Watch out for

24.5 in long when folded, longer than a carry-on
15.87 lb without the bumper bar
Small basket split by a frame bar

Check price on Amazon Silver Cross siteList price $550 from Silver Cross

Read the full Silver Cross Jet 5 review

9Best under $300

Colugo Compact Stroller+

The Compact Stroller+ comes with a rain cover, cup holder and carry bag for $299 and folds one-handed. It starts at 4 months and takes no infant car seat.

Weight: 16.18 lb
Folded: 22 x 17.6 x 10.6 in
Child up to: 55 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Too big

Why it stands out

Rain cover, cup holder and carry backpack included
One-hand auto fold with no latch
55 lb child limit, higher handlebar on the + version

Watch out for

4 months minimum, no car seat option
16.18 lb, heavy for its size
Reviewers disagree on whether it fits overhead bins

Check price on Amazon Colugo siteList price $299 from Colugo

Read the full Colugo Compact Stroller+ review

10Lightest small fold

gb Pockit+ All-City

The Pockit+ All-City folds smaller than anything else here on retailer numbers, around 18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in. Stock is thin, though, and gb’s US site was down when we checked.

Weight: 13.2 lb
Folded: 18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in
Child up to: 55 lb
22 x 14 x 9 bag: Fits

Why it stands out

Around 18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in folded (retailer figures)
13.2 lb with a 55 lb child limit
Cybex infant seat adapters included

Watch out for

Seat does not lie flat; 6 months and up
Flexy frame and split push handles
Several US retailers show it sold out

Check price on AmazonList price $330 from gb

Read the full gb Pockit+ All-City review

Which Travel Strollers Actually Fit in the Overhead Bin?

Ten of the thirteen single strollers we compared say they are cabin-friendly, IATA compatible or able to fit "most" overhead bins. On the makers’ own folded dimensions, only two fit inside a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on: the Cybex Libelle and the gb Pockit+ All-City.

That doesn’t make the other claims false. An overhead bin is bigger than the carry-on size limit, and plenty of parents slide a YOYO or a Butterfly in sideways. But the bin is shared space, and the crew can send any stroller to the hold. If you want a rule you can point to, the airline’s published stroller limit is the one that counts.

Here is each fold against the stroller limits airlines publish. Airline stroller policies has the full rules for 25 airlines.

Which travel strollers meet airline cabin stroller limits
Stroller (folded)	United: 22 x 14 x 9 in	Lufthansa: 55 x 40 x 23 cm	Air France: 55 x 45 x 25 cm	Spirit: 22 x 18 x 10 in	Qantas: 22 x 14 x 9 in, 7 kg
Joolz Aer2 20.9 x 17.3 x 9.2 in	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus 21.8 x 17.6 x 9.6 in	No	No	No	Yes	No
Stokke YOYO5 20.5 x 17.7 x 8.7 in	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Cybex Libelle 18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 in	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nuna TRVL 24 x 20.25 x 11 in	No	No	No	No	No
UPPAbaby Minu V3 21.5 x 18 x 10 in	No	No	No	Yes	No
Mountain Buggy nano urban 21 x 20 x 12 in	No	No	No	No	No
Silver Cross Jet 5 24.5 x 14.5 x 10 in	No	No	No	No	No
Colugo Compact Stroller+ 22 x 17.6 x 10.6 in	No	No	No	No	No
gb Pockit+ All-City 18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Zoe Traveler 22 x 19 x 10 in	No	No	No	No	No
Summer by Ingenuity 3Dlite 40 x 14 x 12 in	No	No	No	No	No
Kolcraft Cloud Plus 34 x 18 x 12 in	No	No	No	No	No

Two things stand out. The YOYO5 and the Aer2 are too wide for United’s 14 in limit but fit the 55 x 45 x 25 cm size that Air France and KLM use. And the Libelle and Pockit, the two smallest folds, both start at 6 months, so you trade newborn use for the smaller fold.

How to Choose a Travel Stroller

Folded size matters more than weight

Most travel strollers weigh between 13 and 17 lb, so weight barely separates them. Folded size does. Compare the fold to your airline’s stroller rule, not to a general "fits the overhead bin" promise.

Think in all three dimensions. A stroller that is 20.5 in tall but 17.7 in wide, like the YOYO5, fails a 14 in wide sizer even though it is shorter than a carry-on.

Decide how young your baby will be

If you are flying with a newborn, you have three options. You can get a seat that lies flat (Aer2, Butterfly 2 Plus, Minu V3, nano urban, Jet 5), add a newborn pack or bassinet (YOYO5), or click in an infant car seat. Our travel strollers for newborns guide compares them.

The Libelle, Pockit and Nuna TRVL seats start at about 6 months.

Check your car seat before you buy

Nuna PIPA seats click onto the Nuna TRVL without adapters. Cybex seats fit the Libelle and Pockit with adapters in the box. Most others need an adapter set that costs $55 to $70 extra.

If you would rather carry one item, a car seat stroller like the Doona X is FAA approved for use on the plane.

Look at the basket and the warranty

Baskets range from about 10 lb (Nuna TRVL, Colugo, Zoe) to 22 lb (YOYO5). Warranties range from 1 year to Joolz’s 10 years with registration. Travel is hard on wheels and frames, so the long warranties are worth something.

Traveling with two

No double stroller fits in a cabin, but a few fold small enough for a car trunk and a gate check. See our best double travel strollers. For older kids, our travel strollers for toddlers page compares seat limits, and families on a budget can start with the best cheap travel strollers.

Questions people ask

Is a travel stroller worth it?

Yes, if you fly or take taxis more than a couple of times a year. The travel strollers we compared weigh 13 to 17 lb and fold small enough for a car trunk, and a few fit airline cabin limits. If you only travel once a year by car, a good umbrella stroller costs far less.

Do I need a travel stroller to fly?

No. Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue all check a stroller free, at the counter or at the gate. A travel stroller is about keeping it with you: one that folds small enough can go in the overhead bin, so it doesn’t get thrown around in the hold and isn’t missing when you land.

Can you bring a stroller on a plane?

Yes. On Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue you can roll it to the gate and check it there free. Some airlines let a small folded stroller into the cabin: United allows strollers up to 22 x 14 x 9 in, and Air France and KLM allow up to 55 x 45 x 25 cm. See our airline stroller policies.

Does a stroller count as a carry-on?

Not on Delta, American, United, Southwest or JetBlue, where strollers ride free on top of your bags. Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Singapore Airlines and Qantas count a cabin stroller as part of the hand baggage allowance.

Which travel strollers fit in the overhead bin?

On the makers’ published numbers, the Cybex Libelle (18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 in) and the gb Pockit+ All-City (about 18.9 x 13 x 7.5 in) fit a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on. The Stokke YOYO5 and Joolz Aer2 are wider but fit the 55 x 45 x 25 cm limit Air France and KLM use. Bins are bigger than carry-on limits, so many others fit in practice, but the crew decides.

What is a travel stroller?

A travel stroller is a lightweight stroller, usually 13 to 17 lb, that folds into a compact block small enough for an overhead bin or a car trunk. Unlike an umbrella stroller, which folds long and thin, it folds into a short box and often lies flat or takes an infant car seat.